RMIT ABC Fact Check wins BHERT award

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The RMIT ABC Fact Check team was last night presented with a prestigious Business of Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) Award at a ceremony in Brisbane.

In an area of fake news, misinformation and disinformation, RMIT ABC Fact Check investigates the accuracy of claims made by Members of Parliament, prominent individuals and lobby groups.

Since RMIT and ABC joined forces two years ago the team has produced more than 110 fact checks.

Going beyond the daily news cycle, the team combines national and academic scholarship and quality journalism to deliver verdicts across multiple ABC platforms to help inform public policy and debate.

“Fact Check strives to combine excellence in journalism with the very best of academic scholarship to better inform the public on contentious public policy issues, and it is extremely gratifying to have that recognised,” said RMIT ABC Fact Check Director Russell Skelton.

“I would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary level of support and encouragement Fact Check has received from RMIT University and the ABC. The partnership has allowed Fact Check to deliver quality research to a national audience across multiple media platforms, including online and on TV.”

Since 1998 the BHERT Awards have recognised the importance of business-university partnerships in innovation, research and development and teaching. RMIT ABC Fact Check won the category for Outstanding Collaboration for National (non-economic) Benefit.

BHERT sought university initiatives and partnerships that had influence and impact at a national scale, and RMIT ABC Fact Check achieved this, said BHERT chief executive Dr Peter Binks.

“Our panel noted that the program is a rare and successful collaboration in the fast-growing world of fact check journalism,” he said.

“It tackles difficult subjects that are of significant community concern, but mostly neglected by mainstream media. Importantly, it plays a vital role in educating the next generation of journalists through its internship program.”

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